Written By Olena Riznyk
AILSA CRAIG – More than 400 kilograms of Ontario-grown chicken will make its way to the Ailsa Craig and Area Food Bank this fall, providing an estimated 3,000 meals for families across the region.
Local chicken farmers, representatives from Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) and MPP Steve Pinsonneault gathered on August 14 to recognize the donation through the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program.
The donation comes as the food bank continues to see more people asking for help.
Mark Isaac, general manager and community chaplain at the Ailsa Craig and Area Food Bank, said the organization now serves close to 1,700 families a year and expects that number could be even higher this year. “It’s been steadily going up, but it took big jumps through the pandemic and it has not slowed down,” Isaac said.
Mark Isaac said the changing need is also visible in who is now turning to the food bank for help. Some of the people who supported the organization for years are now finding themselves needing that same support. “A lot of the people that have supported us for many decades are now people that need help, at times,” he said.
The food bank serves a large rural area that includes North Middlesex, Middlesex Centre, Lucan Biddulph and part of Lambton Shores. Families within the service area can contact the food bank for help, with food delivered directly to their homes in unmarked vehicles.
Brian Lewis, CFO District 3 Director, said the 400 kilograms of chicken will arrive later this fall. The CFO Cares program allows Ontario’s approximately 1,300 chicken farmers to donate chicken to their local food banks or to food banks where the need is greatest.
The program started in 2015 and now provides about one million meals across Ontario each year.
Pinsonneault said CFO donations in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex this year will provide about 17,000 meals. He said donations like this help food banks prepare for ongoing needs, including the busier Christmas season. “Every little bit helps,” he said. “They’ve stepped up in a big way.”
Once the chicken is released to Feed Ontario this fall, it will begin making its way to local food banks.
Isaac said donations like this allow the food bank to provide families with healthier food. “It’s nice to have fresh meat to be able to give to the families,” he said.
